Hollow fiber membrane module, filtration apparatus using the same, and method for manufacturing the filtration apparatus

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a hollow fiber membrane module, a filtration apparatus based on the same, and a method for manufacturing the filtration apparatus. The hollow fiber membrane module includes two headers respectively provided with a permeate collecting unit therein, wherein each of the headers has grooves on its two sides, the grooves being extended in a length direction of the hollow fiber membrane. Since one slide rod can simultaneously be inserted into grooves of two adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules, the hollow fiber membrane modules can mutually serve as guides for insertion/ejection thereof. Also, since the grooves formed on the header can serve as insertion holes into which a clamp is inserted, the clamp can be used for coupling between the hollow fiber membrane module and another element and reinforcement of the coupling.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a hollow fiber membrane module, afiltration apparatus using the same, and a method for manufacturing thefiltration apparatus, and more particularly, to a hollow fiber membranemodule, a filtration apparatus using the same, and a method formanufacturing the filtration apparatus, in which the hollow fibermembrane module can be provided with insertion/ejection paths from anadjacent hollow fiber membrane module when it is inserted into/ejectedfrom a frame structure and can provide the insertion/ejection paths tothe adjacent hollow fiber membrane module inserted into/ejected from theframe structure.

BACKGROUND ART

A separation method using a membrane has lots of advantages over themethod based on heating or phase-changing. One of the advantages is highreliability of water treatment since the water purity required can beeasily and stably satisfied by adjusting the size of the pores of amembrane. Furthermore, since the separation method using a membrane doesnot require a heating process, the membrane can be used withmicroorganism which is useful for a separation process but may beadversely affected by heat.

One of the separation methods using a membrane is a separation methodusing a hollow fiber membrane module provided with a bundle of hollowfiber membranes. Conventionally, although the hollow fiber membranemodule has been widely used in the field of precision filtration such asmanufacture of axenic water, drinking water, and ultrapure water, itsapplication range has been recently extended to sewage/waste watertreatment, sludge separation from a septic tank, removal of suspendedsolid (SS) from industrial waste water, filtration of stream water,filtration of industrial water, filtration of pool water, and the like.

One kind of the hollow fiber membrane modules is a suction type hollowfiber membrane module which is submerged into a water tank filled with afluid to be treated. A negative pressure is applied to the inside of thehollow fiber membranes, whereby only a fluid passes through the wall ofeach membrane and solid elements such as impurities and sludge arerejected. This suction type hollow fiber membrane module is advantageousin that the manufacturing cost is relatively low and that theinstallation and maintenance cost is reduced since a facility forcirculating a fluid is not required.

In case of such a suction type hollow fiber membrane module, severalhollow fiber membrane modules are inserted into a frame structure in dueorder to form a cassette type. Afterwards, this cassette is submergedinto a liquid substrate having contaminant materials including solidelements, whereby a filtering treatment is carried out. At this time, asa water treatment is carried out, membrane contamination is caused bythe contaminant materials. As a result, a problem occurs in thatpermeable performance of the membrane is remarkably deteriorated.Accordingly, in order to maintain permeable performance of the membraneat a good state while a water treatment is being carried out by thehollow fiber membrane, rising air bubbles are generated through the airjetted from an aeration pipe positioned under the hollow fiber membranemodules, whereby impurities are removed from a surface of the hollowfiber membrane.

Meanwhile, since the air is strongly jetted from the aeration pipe whenthe aeration process is carried out, the hollow fiber membrane modulesare subjected to serious vibration. The hollow fiber membrane modulesmay be damaged by such vibration. Accordingly, a plurality of hollowfiber membrane modules constituting one cassette are tightly adhered toone another. However, if the plurality of hollow fiber membrane modulesare tightly adhered to one another, damage of the hollow fiber membranemodules due to collision among them may be reduced but vibration of abundle of hollow fiber membranes ported in each hollow fiber membranemodule may still occur. Also, the hollow fiber membranes may still bedamaged due to their vibration. If it is required that a specific hollowfiber membrane module should be exchanged with a new one or should berepaired due to its damage, after the corresponding one of the pluralityof hollow fiber membrane modules tightly adhered to one another isejected, it is repaired or exchanged with a new one, whereby therepaired one or new one is inserted into the corresponding position.

As described above, when a plurality of hollow fiber membrane modulesare inserted into a filtration apparatus in due order to form acassette, when a specific one of the plurality of hollow fiber membranemodules is ejected from a frame structure to repair it, and when therepaired one is again inserted into the filtration apparatus, thefiltration apparatus according to the related art has much difficultybecause no guide module providing insertion/ejection paths of the hollowfiber membrane exists.

The current trend is towards a large scaled hollow fiber membrane moduleto increase capacity of a water treatment. In this respect, a problemoccurs in that difficulty in inserting/ejecting the hollow fibermembrane module into/from the frame structure becomes more serious.Particularly, in case of a horizontal hollow fiber membrane module inwhich a length direction of the hollow fiber membrane is parallel withan insertion and ejection direction of the hollow fiber membrane module,the above problem becomes more serious.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Therefore, the present invention is directed to a hollow fiber membranemodule, a filtration apparatus based on the same, and a method formanufacturing the filtration apparatus, which substantially obviate oneor more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of therelated art.

An aspect of the present invention is to provide a hollow fiber membranemodule and a method for manufacturing a filtration apparatus using thesame, in which the hollow fiber membrane module can be provided withinsertion/ejection paths from an adjacent hollow fiber membrane modulewhen it is inserted into/ejected from a frame structure and can providethe insertion/ejection paths to the adjacent hollow fiber membranemodule inserted into/ejected from the frame structure.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a hollow fibermembrane module and a filtration apparatus using the same, which canimprove convenience of the manufacture and economics.

Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a hollowfiber membrane module and a filtration apparatus using the same, ofwhich convenience and durability in use are remarkably improved by aclamp used for coupling and/or reinforcement of coupling when the hollowfiber membrane module is coupled with another element.

Further still another aspect of the present invention is to provide ahollow fiber membrane module and a filtration apparatus using the same,of which durability is remarkably improved as adjacent hollow fibermembrane modules are supported by each other.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may berealized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in thewritten description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

Technical Solution

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein,there is provided a hollow fiber membrane module comprising first andsecond headers respectively provided with a permeate collecting unittherein; and a bundle of hollow fiber membranes between the first andsecond headers, both ends of the hollow fiber membranes beingrespectively potted in potting surfaces of the headers facing to eachother such that the hollow fiber membranes are in fluid communicationwith the permeate collecting units, wherein each of the headers hasfirst and second sides adjacent to the potting surface and opposite toeach other, and wherein grooves extended in a length direction of thehollow fiber membrane are formed on the first and second sides.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided afiltration apparatus comprising a hollow fiber membrane module includinga header having a projecting port for discharging out permeate water ina permeate collecting unit and a bundle of hollow fiber membranes ofwhich ends are potted in potting surface of the header so that thehollow fiber membranes are in fluid communication with the permeatecollecting unit; and a unit pipe providing a pathway for the permeatewater discharged from the projecting port, the projecting port beinginserted into the unit pipe, wherein the header has first and secondsides adjacent to the potting surfaces and opposite to each other, andwherein grooves extended in a length direction of the hollow fibermembranes are formed on the first and second sides.

In still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided afiltration apparatus comprising a first hollow fiber membrane modulehaving a first header provided with a first groove; a second hollowfiber membrane module having a second header provided with a secondgroove; and a slide rod, wherein the slide rod includes a first mainbody inserted into the first groove, a second main body inserted intothe second groove, and a link unit positioned between the first andsecond main bodies.

In further still another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for manufacturing a filtration apparatus, the methodcomprising inserting a second hollow fiber membrane module having asecond header provided with a second groove into a frame having thereina first hollow fiber membrane module having a first header provided witha first groove, wherein a slide rod includes a first main body, a secondmain body, and a link unit positioned between the first and second mainbodies, the first main body being inserted into the first groove of thefirst hollow fiber membrane module, and wherein the inserting the secondhollow fiber membrane module includes inserting the second hollow fibermembrane module into the frame under the guide of the second groove insuch a manner that the second main body of the slide rod is insertedinto the second groove of the second hollow fiber membrane module.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Advantageous Effects

According to a hollow fiber membrane module, a filtration apparatusbased on the same, and a method for manufacturing the filtrationapparatus of the present invention, since hollow fiber membrane modulesserve as guides for insertion/ejection for one another when they areinserted into/ejected from a frame structure, it facilitates exchangeand repair of a specific hollow fiber membrane as well as manufacture ofthe filtration apparatus.

Also, since two headers constituting one hollow fiber membrane modulecan be manufactured by one mold, the manufacture is convenient and themanufacturing cost can be reduced.

Also, since grooves formed in a header of the hollow fiber membranemodule can serve as spaces for insertion of a clamp, the clamp can beused for coupling and/or reinforcement of the coupling when the hollowfiber membrane module is coupled with another element, for example, unitpipe. As a result, convenience in manufacture and durability of thefiltration apparatus can be improved more remarkably than forciblecoupling using a bolt.

Finally, since adjacent hollow fiber membrane modules are supported byeach other through a slide rod, durability of the filtration apparatusmay be improved remarkably.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are a perspective view and a front view brieflyillustrating a hollow fiber membrane module according to one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are a perspective view and a front view brieflyillustrating hollow fiber membrane modules according to one embodimentof the present invention, which are coupled to a frame structure to formone cassette.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view briefly illustrating a slide rod accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a hollow fiber membrane module guidedfrom an adjacent hollow fiber membrane module when it is insertedinto/ejected from a frame structure in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are a perspective view and a front view brieflyillustrating a hollow fiber membrane module according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram briefly illustrating coupling between a hollow fibermembrane module and a unit pipe according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

BEST MODE

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Hereinafter, a filtration apparatus according to one embodiment of thepresent invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

For the following description of the present invention, a hollow fibermembrane module is illustrated as a filtering membrane module todescribe technical spirits of the present invention. However, it is tobe understood that the present invention it is not limited to the hollowfiber membrane module. For example, the present invention may be appliedto various kinds of filtering membrane modules including a flat-typemodule.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are a perspective view and a front view brieflyillustrating a hollow fiber membrane module according to one embodimentof the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hollow fiber membrane module 100 according toone embodiment of the present invention includes a bundle of hollowfiber membranes 120 arranged between two headers 110. Both ends of thehollow fiber membranes 120 are potted on the potting surfaces of the twoheaders 110 facing to each other through an adhesive unit 130 formed ofpolyurethane and the like.

Permeate collecting units (not shown) connected with open ends of thehollow fiber membranes 120 through a fluid are respectively formedwithin the headers 110. The permeate water passed through the hollowfiber membranes 120 by a negative pressure applied to the inside of thehollow fiber membranes 120 is primarily collected in the permeatecollecting unit. Each of the headers 110 further includes a projectingport 112 for discharging out the permeate water generated by the bundleof hollow fiber membranes 120 and collected in the permeate collectingunits.

One embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 isdirected to a horizontal hollow fiber membrane module 100. When thehollow fiber membrane module 100 is submerged into a liquid substrate tobe treated, the two headers 110 are positioned in such a manner thattheir length direction is vertical to the surface of the water, and thehollow fiber membranes 120 are arranged in parallel with the surface ofthe water.

According to the present invention, each of the headers 110 has grooves111 on its two sides opposite to each other and adjacent to the pottingsurface, the grooves 111 being extended in a length direction of thehollow fiber membranes 120. According to one embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, one header 110 has two pairs ofgrooves 111 respectively formed on its upper and lower portions.However, the number of the pairs of grooves 111 and the position of thegrooves 111 formed on the header 110 may be selected appropriatelydepending on factors such as the size of the hollow fiber membranemodule 100.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are a perspective view and a front view brieflyillustrating hollow fiber membrane modules according to one embodimentof the present invention, which are coupled to a frame structure to formone cassette.

The filtration apparatus of the present invention carries out filteringafter the hollow fiber membrane modules 100 are submerged into theliquid substrate with contaminants including solid elements in a statethat they are coupled to the frame structure (not shown). At this time,membrane contamination is caused by the contaminants as the watertreatment is carried out. For this reason, a problem occurs in thatpermeable performance of the hollow fiber membrane 120 is remarkablydeteriorated. In order to maintain permeable performance of the hollowfiber membrane 120 at a good state while the water treatment is beingcarried out by the hollow fiber membrane 120, rising air bubbles aregenerated by the air jetted from an aeration pipe (not shown) positionedunder the hollow fiber membrane modules 100 during the water treatment,whereby impurities are removed from the surface of the hollow fibermembrane 120.

Meanwhile, since the air is strongly jetted from the aeration pipeduring the aeration process, serious vibration is applied to each of thehollow fiber membrane modules 100, whereby the hollow fiber membranemodules 100 may be damaged due to mutual collision caused by such avibration. In order to reduce the damage of the hollow fiber membranemodules 100, the plurality of hollow fiber membrane modules 100 of thefiltration apparatus according to the present invention are tightlyadhered to one another as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

However, as the plurality of hollow fiber membrane modules 100 aretightly adhered to one another, although damage due to their collisionmay be reduced, vibration of the bundle of hollow fiber membranes 120potted in each hollow fiber membrane module 100 and damage of the hollowfiber membrane 120 due to the vibration may still exist. If a specifichollow fiber membrane module 100 should be exchanged with another newone or should be repaired due to damage of the hollow fiber membrane120, only the corresponding hollow fiber membrane module 100 of theplurality of hollow fiber membrane modules 100 tightly adhered to oneanother should be ejected from the frame structure. In case of thehorizontal hollow fiber membrane module 100, its ejection direction isparallel with the length direction of the hollow fiber membrane 120.

Also, if the plurality of horizontal hollow fiber membrane modules 100are inserted into the frame structure in due order to form a cassette,or if the repaired hollow fiber membrane module or a new hollow fibermembrane module for exchange is inserted into the frame structure, theinsertion direction thereof is also parallel with the length directionof the hollow fiber membrane 120.

According to the present invention, when the horizontal hollow fibermembrane modules 100 are inserted into/ejected from the frame structure,they mutually serve as guides for insertion/ejection, as will bedescribed hereinafter in more detail.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view briefly illustrating a slide rod accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, the slide rod 200 of the present invention includesfirst and second main bodies 210 and 220 parallel with each other in alength direction, and a link unit 230 positioned between the first andsecond main bodies 210 and 220. Any one of the first and second mainbodies 210 and 220 of the slide rod 200 is inserted into the grooves 111formed on the sides of the headers 110 of the hollow fiber membranemodule 100, and the other one is inserted into the groove of theadjacent hollow fiber membrane module. In order to easily eject theslide rod 200, of which one end is inserted into the groove 111, fromthe hollow fiber membrane module 100, as shown in FIG. 5, the slide rod200 of the present invention may further include a handle 240 coupledwith its one end.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a hollow fiber membrane module guidedfrom an adjacent hollow fiber membrane module when it is insertedinto/ejected from a frame structure in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, after a first hollow fiber membrane module 100 a isinserted into the frame, a second hollow fiber membrane module 100 b maybe guided from the first hollow fiber membrane module 100 a when it isinserted into the frame. Similarly, when the second hollow fibermembrane module 100 b is ejected from the frame structure in a statethat the first and second hollow fiber membrane modules 100 a and 100 bare inserted into the frame structure, the second hollow fiber membranemodule 100 b may be guided from the first hollow fiber membrane module100 a.

In more detail, each of the first and second hollow fiber membranemodules 100 a and 100 b includes two headers and a bundle of hollowfiber membranes between the headers. Grooves extended in a lengthdirection of the hollow fiber membrane are formed on the sides of theheaders. Each of the headers of the first and second hollow fibermembrane modules 100 a and 100 b shown in FIG. 6 includes a total offour grooves formed on upper and lower portions of two sides.

After the first hollow fiber membrane module 100 a is inserted into theframe, the second hollow fiber membrane module 100 b and the slide rods200 are prepared. Each of the slide rods 200 includes a first main body210, a second main body 220, and a link unit 230 positioned between thefirst and second main bodies 210 and 220. The slide rod 200 may beprovided with a handle 240 at its one end. The second main bodies 220 ofthe slide rods 200 are inserted into the corresponding grooves formed onthe sides of two headers of the second hollow fiber membrane module 100b in due order. If each of the headers includes a total of four groovesas shown in FIG. 6, a total of four slide rods 200 are inserted into thegrooves of the second hollow fiber membrane module 100 b.

When the second hollow fiber membrane module 100 b into which the sliderods 200 are inserted is inserted into the frame structure, the firstmain body 210 of the slide rod 200 is inserted into correspondinggrooves of the first hollow fiber membrane module 100 a in a slidingmode, whereby the second hollow fiber membrane module 100 b can beinserted into the frame structure under the guide of the grooves.Similarly, even when the second hollow fiber membrane module 100 b isejected from the frame structure, the slide rod 200 is also ejected fromthe frame structure together with the second hollow fiber membranemodule 100 b, whereby the second hollow fiber membrane module 100 b maybe guided from the grooves of the first hollow fiber membrane module 100a.

Selectively, in a state that the first main body 210 of each slide rod200 is inserted into each of the grooves of the first hollow fibermembrane module 100 a inserted into the frame structure, the secondhollow fiber membrane module 100 b may be inserted into the frame. Inthis case, the second main body 220 of the slide rod 200 is insertedinto each of corresponding grooves of the second hollow fiber membranemodule 100 b in a sliding mode, whereby the second hollow fiber membranemodule 100 b can be inserted into the frame structure under the guide ofthe second main body of the slide rod 200. Likewise, even when thesecond hollow fiber membrane module 100 b is ejected from the framestructure, it can be ejected from the frame structure under the guide ofthe second main body of the slide rod 200.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are a perspective view and a front view brieflyillustrating a hollow fiber membrane module according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, according to another embodiment of thepresent invention, a groove 111′ is formed only at one side of each ofheaders 110′ of hollow fiber membrane modules 100′, and one horizontalrod 200′ is coupled to each of opposite sides of the headers 110′. Inthis embodiment, the horizontal rod 200′ of the hollow fiber membranemodule 100′ is inserted into or ejected from the groove formed on a sideof a header of an adjacent hollow fiber membrane module in a slidingmode, whereby the hollow fiber membrane modules may be guided from eachother with respect to a path for insertion/ejection.

However, since the groove 111′ is formed only at one side of header 110′of the hollow fiber membrane module 100′ shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, aproblem occurs in that two headers 110′ constituting one hollow fibermembrane module 100′ cannot be manufactured using the same mold. Inother words, considering that the manufacturing process can besimplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced when two headers110 of the hollow fiber membrane module 100 are manufactured using thesame mold, it is preferable that the grooves 111 are formed on bothsides of the header 110 and a separate slide rod 200 that can beinserted into/ejected from the grooves 111 in a sliding mode is used.

Meanwhile, after the first and second hollow fiber membrane modules 100a and 100 b are inserted into the frame structure using the separateslide rod 200, the slide rod 200 is maintained in a state that it isinserted into the grooves of the first and second hollow fiber membranemodules 100 a and 100 b. As a result, the first and second hollow fibermembrane modules 100 a and 100 b can be supported by each other duringfiltering operation and their collision can be avoided.

Selectively, according to another embodiment of the present invention,after the hollow fiber membrane modules 100 are inserted into the framestructure, the slide rod 200 is removed from the hollow fiber membranemodule 100 and the grooves 111 formed on both sides of the header 110may be used for coupling between the hollow fiber membrane module 100and a unit pipe 300. Hereinafter, coupling between the hollow fibermembrane module 100 and the unit pipe 300 will be described in moredetail.

FIG. 9 is a diagram briefly illustrating coupling between a hollow fibermembrane module and a unit pipe according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

In order to provide a pathway of the permeate water discharged from theprojecting port 112 of the hollow fiber membrane module 100, thefiltration apparatus of the present invention further includes a unitpipe 300 into which the projecting port 112 is inserted. Each header 110of the hollow fiber membrane module has its corresponding unit pipe 300.The respective unit pipes 300 are connected with each other toconstitute one pipe. Through holes 310 corresponding to the grooves 111of the header 110 of the hollow fiber membrane module 100 are formed inthe unit pipe 300.

The filtration apparatus of the present invention further includes aclamp 400 inserted into the groove 111 of the header 110 and the throughholes 310 of the unit pipe 300. The groove 111 of the header 110, whichhas served as a guide through the slide rod 200 when the hollow fibermembrane module 100 has been inserted into/ejected from the framestructure, serves as an insertion groove of the clamp 400 for couplingbetween the header 110 and the unit pipe 300.

The clamp 400 is used to reinforce coupling between the header 110 andthe unit pipe 300. In addition, the clamp 400 can more increase easinessof coupling and improve durability of the filtration apparatus than thata bolt is used for coupling between the header 110 and the unit pipe300. If the bolt is used for coupling between the header 110 and theunit pipe 300, it is likely that the header 110 is damaged. By contrast,if the clamp 400 of the present invention is used, since it is notforcible fitting, the header 100 is little damaged.

Selectively, the filtration apparatus of the present invention mayfurther include fixing members 500 respectively fixed to the parts ofthe clamp 400, which have respectively passed through the groove 111 andthe through hole 310, so as to prevent the clamp 400 inserted into thegroove 111 of the header 110 and the through hole 310 of the unit pipe300 from being detached therefrom. The fixing member 500 may be a nut orelastic member.

Meanwhile, although the slide rod 200 and the groove 111 formed on theheader 110 have rounded sections as shown in the present invention,various modifications can be made in the sections of the slide rod 200and the groove 111 if the slide rod 200 can be inserted into and ejectedfrom the groove 111 formed on the header 110 of the hollow fibermembrane module 100 in parallel with its length direction.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A filtration apparatus comprising: a first hollowfiber membrane module having a pair of first headers and a first hollowfiber membrane therebetween, each of the first headers provided with afirst groove; a second hollow fiber membrane module having a pair ofsecond headers and a second hollow fiber membrane therebetween, each ofthe second headers provided with a second groove; and a slide rod,wherein the slide rod includes a first main body inserted into the firstgrooves, a second main body inserted into the second grooves, and a linkunit positioned between the first and second main bodies.
 2. Thefiltration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slide rod furtherincludes a handle coupled to one end thereof to facilitate ejection ofthe slide rod inserted into the first and second grooves.
 3. A methodfor manufacturing a filtration apparatus, the method comprising:inserting a second hollow fiber membrane module having second headersinto a frame having therein a first hollow fiber membrane module havingfirst headers, each of the first headers provided with a first groove,each of the second headers provided with a second groove, wherein aslide rod includes a first main body, a second main body, and a linkunit positioned between the first and second main bodies, the first mainbody being inserted into the first grooves of the first hollow fibermembrane module, and wherein the inserting the second hollow fibermembrane module includes inserting the second hollow fiber membranemodule into the frame under the guide of the second grooves in such amanner that the second main body of the slide rod is inserted into thesecond grooves of the second hollow fiber membrane module.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 3, wherein the slide rod further includes a handlecoupled to one end thereof.
 5. The method according to claim 3, furthercomprising: removing the slide rod from the first and second hollowfiber membrane modules after inserting the second hollow fiber membranemodule into the frame; coupling a first unit pipe provided with a firstthrough hole to one of the first headers in a fluid communication mode;and inserting a clamp into both the first groove of the one of the firstheaders and the first through hole to reinforce coupling between thefirst unit pipe and the one of the first headers.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 5, further comprising coupling a fixing member to apart of the clamp, which has passed through the first groove of the oneof the first headers and the first through hole, so as to prevent theclamp inserted into the first groove of the one of the first headers andthe first through hole from being detached therefrom.